Radio -- I Remember

by Irv Mitchell

As a boomer, I missed the "Golden Age" of dramatic radio. Though I have always been a true child of television, radio was always a factor in my early years -- primarily KDKA in Pittsburgh. Schooldays began with Rege Cordic (of Old Frothingslosh - the Pale Stale Ale with the Foam on the Bottom fame), Sundays with Josie Carey (the late Fred Rogers borrowed - with permission - one of her themes when he first moved into his own TV neighborhood); and I went to bed, covertly (under the covers with an earphone), with "Party Line with Ed & Wendy King."

While in middle school, a friend of my father loaned him The Longines-Wittenauer Golden Age of Radio albums. I listened to them over and over and became forever hooked. I began spending weekends with NBC's "Monitor" and searching out what I could on shortwave. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) always had something of interest, as did Radio Netherlands, among others.

Soon I was looking for more. In the late 60's you could usually find, in most markets, an FM station that would broadcast an episode of "The Shadow" (never one of my favorites) on a Sunday afternoon. In the early 70's, in addition to "The Shadow," NBC broadcast Sunday repeats of "X Minus One" in the summer and beginning in 1974 stations affiliated with CBS Radio devoted one hour each night to "Mystery Theater". Other programs (including "General Mills Radio Adventure Theater," "Mutual Radio Theater" / "Sears Radio Theater" and "Zero Hour") aired on a syndicated basis, but none really caught on, and eventually, after 1,400 programs, even CBS gave up and cancelled Himan Brown's "Mystery Theater."

In the 80's, Garrison Keillor held forth on Saturdays with "A Prairie Home Companion". It was, and continues to be, a wonderful way to while away a couple of hours. Bill Bragg (the man with a million friends) began his efforts with Yesterday USA.

The advent of audiobooks in the late 80s marked the beginning of a renaissance in entertainment tailored for the ear. More opportunities exist than ever before to enjoy radio drama. Classic rebroadcasts and new, innovative programming flourish on, and off, the web. New syndicated radio dramas air in some markets - for example "Twilight Zone" hosted by Stacy Keach. Satellite radio offers OTR programming. And, of course, various collections are available commercially.

However, for contemporary radio drama and comedy, the BBC cannot be beat. New shows abound on Radio 3 and Radio 4. And replays of classic British entertainment mixed with new programming can be found on Radio 4 Extra. The Canadian Broadcasting Company also offers a variety of radio features.

Sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy the theater of the mind.